An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Liaison and Diversion Team for the role of Liaison & Diversion Practitioner. This key position within the established Liaison and Diversion Service for Police Custody Suites and Magistrates Courts is offered as a permanent post.
You will be working in partnership with police supporting individuals aged 10 upwards who are arrested and bought into custody, or who are voluntary attendees. Your role is part of a wider MDT, including community engagement workers, peer support workers and specialist practitioners.
As well as working within a small supportive team, you will have access to CPD and training to compliment your role, along with support in career development and progression across the organisation.
We offer reasonable adjustments and support with the application and interview process, and support flexible working patterns, we encourage anyone to contact team managers to discuss individual circumstances.
As the role is predominately based in police custody suites, successful candidates must undergo NPPV Level 2 (full) Police Vetting and have been resident in the UK for at least three years.
Enhanced DBS is also required to undertake this role.
We have vacancies across the following custody suites – please indicate your preference of locality on your application form in additional information.
Blackpool and Preston
Lancaster, Barrow and Kendal
Workington & Carlisle
This Liaison & Diversion Practitioner role will identify and respond to requests to screen and assess people with vulnerabilities in contact with the justice system and could be based in the community, police custody or courts from aged 10 upwards.
Referrals will be identified and received where there have been concerns that an individual has mental health issues, a learning disability, substance misuse, social care, safeguarding or other vulnerabilities, that will trigger a referral to the Liaison & Diversion service.
The role will assess for a number of vulnerabilities, using validated tools, ensuring risk is assessed and relevant information shared to ensure appropriate services are accessed and manage the safety of clients and others.
Assessment will include an opinion on the service user’s capacity for effective participation in criminal justice procedures, cultural and gender needs, age and development related needs, including transition to adulthood and older person needs, social circumstances (including, relationships, leisure requirements, daily living, educational and occupational needs, employment/vocational needs, housing, finance)
Information will be shared appropriately verbally and in a written report within Criminal Justice settings to inform decision-making and facilitate diversion within and out of the criminal justice pathway
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.
For Further enquires please contact staff below for an informal discussion, we also welcome visits to the service by arrangement with team managers
Forensic Community Service Manager – Juliette Hargreaves – Juliette.Hargreaves@lscft.nhs.uk- 01772 406725
Blackpool and Preston Team Manager – Deb Hutchins – Deborah.Hutchins@lscft.nhs.uk – 01772 209775
Lancaster, Barrow and Kendal Team Manager – Gail McGregor – Gail.Mcgregor@lscft.nhs.uk 07929795507
Workington & Carlisle Team Manager – Lauren Miller – Lauren.Miller@lscft.nhs.uk - 07970346529
This advert closes on Wednesday 7 May 2025